Seraphic Secret

Robert J. Avrech: Emmy Award winning screenwriter. Movie fanatic. Helplessly and hopelessly in love with my wife since age nine.

Friday Photos: True Hollywood Confessions

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“My God, must I always wear a low-cut dress to be important?” —Jean Harlow
“My God, must I always wear a low-cut dress to be important?”
—Jean Harlow

The 135MS Roadster, 1937, a sleek classic, from the Sculpted in Steel Exhibit.
The 135MS Roadster, 1937, a sleek classic, from “Sculpted in Steel: Art Deco Automobiles and Motorcycles, 1929-1940” Museum of Fine Arts Houston, through May 30, 2016.

 

Screenwriter Leigh Brackett was primarily a writer of science fiction. She was called Queen of the Space Opera.
Screenwriter Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep ’45, Rio Bravo ’59,  The Empire Strikes Back  ’80) was a prolific science fiction author. She was known as Queen of the Space Opera.

 

Zig Zag Chair Designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld Design: 1932-34 Production: 1935 to c.1955 Manufacturer: Metz & Co., Amsterdam Size: 75 x 37 x 44.5; seat height 42.5 cms Material: red-stained elm, brass screws
Zig Zag Chair
Designed by Gerrit Thomas Rietveld
Production: 1935 to c.1955
Manufacturer: Metz & Co., Amsterdam
Size: 75 x 37 x 44.5; seat height 42.5 cms
Material: red-stained elm, brass screws

 

Self-Portrait by Helen Lundeberg, oil on masonite, 1944, at the Laguna Art Museum. ///ADDITIONAL INFO: lagunaartlundeberg.0306 - 3/2/16 - Photo by PAUL RODRIGUEZ - New exhibits at the Laguna Art Musuem include a retrospective of the work of Helen Lundeberg, an exhibit of the work of modernist Frederick Hammersley, and an exhibit title City Life, Los Angeles.
Helen Lundeberg, (1908 -1999) Self-Portrait, oil on masonite, 1944

 

Patty Duke with Helen Keller.
Patty Duke with Helen Keller.

 

Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen Judith with the Head of Holofernes c. 1525 Oil on panel, 65 x 47 cm
Jan Cornelisz Vermeyen
Judith with the Head of Holofernes
c. 1525
Oil on panel, 65 x 47 cm

 

“As far as my career as an actress went, Mogambo was probably as close to a pinnacle as anything I’ve done. For someone with my naturally irreverent temperament, playing a sassy, tough-talking playgirl who whistles at men, drinks whiskey straight from the bottle, and says about wine, ‘any year, any model, they all bring out my better nature’ was a gift from the gods. I never felt more comfortable in a part before or since, and I was even allowed to improvise some of my dialogue.” —Ava Gardner on her role as Honey Bear Kelly in Mogambo, 1953.
“As far as my career as an actress went, Mogambo was probably as close to a pinnacle as anything I’ve done. For someone with my naturally irreverent temperament, playing a sassy, tough-talking playgirl who whistles at men, drinks whiskey straight from the bottle, and says about wine, ‘any year, any model, they all bring out my better nature’ was a gift from the gods. I never felt more comfortable in a part before or since, and I was even allowed to improvise some of my dialogue.”
—Ava Gardner on her role as Honey Bear Kelly in Mogambo, 1953.

 

The KJ Streamline Motorcycle, 1930. From the Sculpted in Steel exhibit.
The KJ Streamline Motorcycle, 1930. From the Sculpted in Steel exhibit.

 

Leigh Brackett's "The Dragon-Queen of Jupiter" was the cover story in the Summer 1941 issue of Planet Stories
Leigh Brackett’s “The Dragon-Queen of Jupiter” was the cover story in the Summer 1941 issue of Planet Stories

 

Paul j Woolf, Looking Down on Grand Central Station, 1935
Paul J. Woolf, Looking Down on Grand Central Station, 1935

 

Helen Lundeberg Selma, Portrait of the Artist's Mother 1957 oil on canvas 30" x 24"
Helen Lundeberg
Selma, Portrait of the Artist’s Mother
1957
oil on canvas
30″ x 24″

 

Bauhaus Teapot designed by Marianne Brandt, 1924
Bauhaus Teapot designed by Marianne Brandt, 1924

 

Elizabeth Taylor photographed by Richard Avedon, 1956.
Elizabeth Taylor photographed by Richard Avedon, 1956

 

Lee Miller (1907-1977) Self Portrait, New York Studio, New York, USA 1932
Lee Miller (1907-1977)
Self Portrait, New York Studio, New York, USA
1932

 

Screenwriter Leigh Brackett with director Howard Hawks on the set of Rio Bravo. “Plot is people. Human emotions and desires founded on the realities of life, working at cross purposes, getting hotter and fiercer as they strike against each other until finally there’s an explosion—that’s Plot.” —Leigh Brackett
Screenwriter Leigh Brackett with director Howard Hawks on the set of Rio Bravo.
“Plot is people. Human emotions and desires founded on the realities of life, working at cross purposes, getting hotter and fiercer as they strike against each other until finally there’s an explosion—that’s plot.”
—Leigh Brackett

 

French poster for The Big Sleep, 1946, Screenplay by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackets, Jules Furthman Based on The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
French poster for The Big Sleep, 1945, Screenplay by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman
Based on The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

 

135 Competition Coupe, 1936. From the Sculpted in Steel exhibition
135 Competition Coupe, 1936. From the Sculpted in Steel exhibit.

 

Helen Lundeberg Night Lights and Shadows 1959 Oil On Canvas 20 x 24 in.
Helen Lundeberg
Night Lights and Shadows
1959
Oil On Canvas
20 x 24 in.

 

Fred Astaire by Laszlo Willinger, 1943.
Fred Astaire by Laszlo Willinger, 1943.

 

Samarian high priest Yitzhak ben Amram ben Shalma ben Tabia, Israel. (circa 1900).
Samarian high priest Yitzhak ben Amram ben Shalma ben Tabia, Israel. (circa 1900)

 

Robert J. Avrech, Silent Picture. Self Portrait with Persian version of Moses, Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, 2010
Robert J. Avrech, Silent Picture, Self Portrait with Moses, Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, 2010

 

Ready for Passover, Ariel wishes all our friends and relatives a lovely and meaningful Shabbat.
Ready for Passover, Ariel wishes all our friends and relatives a lovely and meaningful Shabbat.

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. “The Big Sleep” screenplay was an interesting exercise in artistry as much of it either made no sense (Who killed the chauffeur?) or blurred the plot enough to get by the censors. The Phillip Marlowe novel is about pornography, which was a bit of a challenge in 1945. Still, the movie is great and I watch it over and over.

    His books are also a history of old Los Angeles before the war. What we call Malibu was “Bay City” and the casino that Eddie Mars ran was on Lankersheim Blvd.

    • Nobody could figure out the plot to the Big Sleep. Not Hawks, not the screenwriters. They all admitted as much years later in various interviews.

  4. “Mogambo” was ok, but I much prefer “Red Dust.” Harlow & Gable were perfect in every way.

    What an impressive photo you found, Robert, of Fred Astaire.

    Oh! and thank you, Robert, for the recommendation of Pico Kosher Deli. I was visiting LA earlier this week and made a point of having lunch there. Excellent!

  5. If you haven’t seen them I am sure you would like the cars produced by Emile Delahaye in the 1930s. To me with any industrial design the epitome of style is when it – whatever “it” is – looks period and yet still looks good decades later.

    The more I have learned about Ava Gardner the more I would have liked to have known her.

    What a character.

    Didn’t realize Leigh Brackett had such a wonderful career.

    • Speaking of cars with style, take a look at Morgan cars some time. It’s a small independent British company, founded in 1909 if I remember right. Their first models were 3-wheel vehicles. Their first 4-wheel car came out in 1936, and they are still producing that model, with slightly changed guts but in appearance nearly identical to the original. Very impressive.

      • The Morgan is my favorite car. I’ve wanted to buy one since I first laid eyes on one here in LA 30 year ago. Sadly, I am way too practical to buy such a rarified machine.

  6. Kudos… as always. I love Ariel’s photo. I am enthralled by the Jean Harlow and Elizabeth Taylor photos. Both have amazing eyes and lips, but what a difference in eyebrows!

    Gotta love the Art Deco car/motorcycle designs. Everything looks fast, even when it’s sitting still!

    Have a blessed Sabbath, Robert…

    • Early Hollywood starlets had their eyebrows shaved off by studio make-up artists so they could paint and place new and better eyebrows. Tragic.

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